Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
Inorganic gels containing a polar liquid and relatively uniformly-sized crystals consisting essentially of a lithium and/or sodium water-swelling mica selected from the group of fluorhectorite, hydroxyl hectorite, boron fluorphlogopite, hydroxyl boron fluorphlogopite, and solid solutions among those and between those and other structurally-compatible species selected from the group of talc, fluortalc, polylithionite, fluorpolylithionite, phlogopite, and fluorphlogopite, at least a substantial portion of said crystals exhibiting a morphology of a continuum of flakes, rectangular-like strips, and interwoven ribbons in parallel or sub-parallel zones or sheaths with said strips and ribbons being about 0.5-10 microns long, about 500 A-5000 A wide, and less than about 100 A thick, and said flakes being irregularly shaped with diameters between about 0.5-10 microns and cross sections of less than about 100 A.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
Inorganic gels containing a polar liquid and relatively uniformly-sized crystals consisting essentially of a lithium and/or sodium water-swelling mica selected from the group of fluorhectorite, hydroxyl hectorite, boron fluorphlogopite, hydroxyl boron fluorphlogopite, and solid solutions among those and between those and other structurally-compatible species selected from the group of talc, fluortalc, polylithionite, fluorpolylithionite, phlogopite, and fluorphlogopite, at least a substantial portion of said crystals exhibiting a morphology of a continuum of flakes, rectangular-like strips, and interwoven ribbons in parallel or sub-parallel zones or sheaths with said strips and ribbons being about 0.5-10 microns long, about 500 A-5000 A wide, and less than about 100 A thick, and said flakes being irregularly shaped with diameters between about 0.5-10 microns and cross sections of less than about 100 A.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
Inorganic gels according to claim 1 also containing inert fillers such that the total of the solids portion of said gels and said inert fillers ranges up to 95% by volume.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
Inorganic gels according to claim 2 wherein said fillers are selected from the group of clays, barite, talc, graphite, gypsum, and organic polymers.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
230 words
A method for preparing inorganic gels containing relatively uniformly-sized crystals consisting essentially of a lithium and/or sodium water-swelling mica selected from the group of fluorhectorite, hydroxyl hectorite, boron fluorphlogopite, hydroxyl boron phlogopite, and solid solutions among those and between those and other structurally-compatible species selected from the group of talc, fluortalc, polylithionite, fluorpolylithionite, phlogopite, and fluorphlogopite, which consists in the steps of: (a) forming a glass-ceramic body containing relatively uniformly-sized crystals consisting essentially of a lithium and/or sodium water-swelling mica selected from the group of fluorhectorite, hydroxyl hectorite, boron fluorphlogopite, hydroxyl boron phlogopite, and solid solutions among those and between those and other structurally-compatible species selected from the group of talc, fluortalc, polylithionite, fluorpolylithionite, phlogopite, and fluorphlogopite; (b) contacting said body with a polar liquid for a time sufficient to cause swelling and disintegration thereof accompanied with the formation of a gel, at least a substantial portion of the crystals in said gel exhibiting a morphology of a continuum of flakes, rectangular-like strips, and interwoven ribbons in parallel or sub-parallel zones or sheaths with said strips and ribbons being about 0.5-10 microns long, about 300 A-5000 A wide, and less than about 100 A thick, and said flakes being irregularly shaped with diameters between about 0.5-10 microns and cross sections of less than about 100 A; and then (c) adjusting the solid:liquid ratio of said gel to a desired fluidity.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
230 words
A method for preparing inorganic gels containing relatively uniformly-sized crystals consisting essentially of a lithium and/or sodium water-swelling mica selected from the group of fluorhectorite, hydroxyl hectorite, boron fluorphlogopite, hydroxyl boron phlogopite, and solid solutions among those and between those and other structurally-compatible species selected from the group of talc, fluortalc, polylithionite, fluorpolylithionite, phlogopite, and fluorphlogopite, which consists in the steps of: (a) forming a glass-ceramic body containing relatively uniformly-sized crystals consisting essentially of a lithium and/or sodium water-swelling mica selected from the group of fluorhectorite, hydroxyl hectorite, boron fluorphlogopite, hydroxyl boron phlogopite, and solid solutions among those and between those and other structurally-compatible species selected from the group of talc, fluortalc, polylithionite, fluorpolylithionite, phlogopite, and fluorphlogopite; (b) contacting said body with a polar liquid for a time sufficient to cause swelling and disintegration thereof accompanied with the formation of a gel, at least a substantial portion of the crystals in said gel exhibiting a morphology of a continuum of flakes, rectangular-like strips, and interwoven ribbons in parallel or sub-parallel zones or sheaths with said strips and ribbons being about 0.5-10 microns long, about 300 A-5000 A wide, and less than about 100 A thick, and said flakes being irregularly shaped with diameters between about 0.5-10 microns and cross sections of less than about 100 A; and then (c) adjusting the solid:liquid ratio of said gel to a desired fluidity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said polar liquid is water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said time sufficient to effect swelling, disintegration, and gelation ranges between about 1-48 hours.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein the viscosity of said gel is adjusted by adding a deflocculating or peptizing agent thereto.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said gels also contain inert fillers such that the total of the solids portion of said gels and said inert fillers ranges up to 95% by volume.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein said fillers are selected from the group of clays, talc, barite, graphite, gypsum, and organic polymers.